Read Case Study 8-1, Discharged for Facebook Comments, in your textbook. Answer the following questions in a Microsoft Word Document. Be advised, there are right and wrong answers for this assignment. Points will be deducted for wrong answers - so read the book in advance of doing the assignment so that you can respond correctly.

1. Under what conditions, if any, does an employer have a legal right to discipline or discharge an employee for comments the employee makes about the company? Would it matter if the comments were posted to a company-sponsored Internet forum, rather than Facebook? Would it matter if the comments were posted to a union-sponsored forum accessible only to members? Why or why not?

2. If you were representing the company in this case and the NLRB regional director asked if you would be willing to settle the union's charges voluntarily, would you do so or would you insist on your legal right to a formal NLRB hearing on the charges? Explain your reasoning.

3. Did the company commit an unfair labor practice by:

1. (a) discharging Nelson for her Facebook postings, (b) denying Nelson an opportunity to meet with her local union representative during an investigatory meeting with her supervisor. Or (c) enforcing an overly broad blogging and internet use policy?